Sand sucker apparatus



Dec. 3, 1940. A. L. cox

SAND SUCKER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 4, 1938 I InventorPatented Dec. 3, .1940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to sand sucker apparatus for use in pumping sandand fluid from oil wells. Among the important objects of the invention,are to provide a compact, readily portable, ap-

paratus of this character in which vibration in operation is reduced toa minimum so that in action it will not break down nor disturbformations of oil sand behind the well casing.

' Other objects are to provide apparatus for the purpose above set forthwhich is economical both as regards manufacture and upkeep, durable,easilyassembled and disassembled, capable of high speed operation andpositive action as regards dumping and which does not require washing ofthe sand chamber to free the same from sand, or fluid, as is necessaryin present day apparatus of this character.

Still another object is to provide improved dumping means for use withsand sucker apparatus.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, allof which, together with the precise nature of my improvement, willbecome apparent when the following description and claims are read withreference to thedrawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a sand suckerapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, thedumping section being omitted.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the lower pressure reliefvalve shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view'through the plunger valve takenas indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper pressurereliefvalve shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the dump section anddump cage.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the dump cage proper, the viewbeing taken at a right angle to Figure 5, and

Figure '1 is a view in longitudinal section of the dump section with thekey positioned therein.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the sand sucker apparatus of myinvention comprises a pump l of the type to be dropped into the wellcasing (not shown) and pulled out of said casing yunder operation of theusual operating mechanism with which well drills are equipped for suchpurposes and which being well known need merely be mentioned in passing.

The pump comprises an outer tubular section 2 of suitable length havingexternally threaded upper and lower ends 3 and 4, for a purposepresently seen, and an inner tubular shorter section 5 of relativelysmaller diameter secured in the upper end of the outer section I,axially thereof, and spaced therefrom by a cylindrical head casting 6having a tubular lower skirt 1 threaded onto the upper end of the innersection 5 and seating on the upper end of the outer section 2, and acoupling sleeve 8 threaded on said skirt I and onto the upper end 3 ofsaid section 2. An annular spacer 9 is interposed between the lower endof the inner section 5 and the outer section 2.

The head casting 6 is bored axially, as at ID, to receive a slidingplunger rod ll vertically reciprocable therein, the bore Ill having alower flaring end [2 and the plunger rod ll an enlarge'd lower end l3beveled, as at Hi, to fit into and close said flaring end for a purposepresently referred to.

Suspended from the end l3 of plunger rod II is a plunger l5 comprisingan upper cage l6 secured to the end I3 by an upper socket l1 on saidcage threaded onto a stud depending from said end l3 of the plunger rodII. The lower end of the cage l6 terminates in a nipple l8 having acircular seat 19 in the upper end thereof for a ball valve 20, saidnipple having a reduced lower end 21 threaded into the upper end of aplunger tube 22 on which is mounted in any suitable manner, as shown forinstance in Figure 3, a plurality of vertically spaced apart fibresuction cups 23 fitting into the inner section 5 of the pump.

At a suitable point below the lower end of the inner section 5, theouter section 2 has mounted thereon a lower relief valve 24 comprising arodlike valve casing 25 extending diametrically of said section 2 withits opposite ends suitably anchored in said section and provided with acentral vertical port 26 for the passage of fluid therethrough, chambers21 inits respective outer ends anda pair of axial ports 28 extendingfrom the port 26 to the chambers 21, respectively. The chambers 21 areclosed by a pair of tubular screw plugs 29 threaded into the outer endsthereof'and said chambers house a pair of ball valves 30 and a pair ofcoil springs 3| interposed between the said plugs and valves and urgingthe latter against suitable seats 32 in the chambers 21, whereby saidvalves 30 normally close the ports 28. The screw plugs are provided withopenings communicating between the chambers 2'1 and the exterior of theouter section 2. The head casin 6 forms the housing of an upper reliefvalve, said casing being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite,longitudinally extending through bores 33 therein having reduced lowerends 34 opening into-the upper end of the inner section of the pump andnormally closed by a pair of upthereto of a bottom dump or-bailingsection 40.

The dump section is preferably of the type comprising an upper tubularmember 4| threaded at its upper end onto end 4 of the outer section 2 ofsaid pump, an inner tubular member 42 extending through and below member4| and having an externally flanged upper end 43 rotatably mounted on aninternal shoulder 44 provided in the upper end of member 4| and againstwhich said flange is held by the lower end of section 2, a lower outertubular member 45 threaded onto the lower end of the member 42 andhaving diametrical slots 46 extending from its lower end upwardly for a.suitable distance, a'pair of longitudinally extending discharge ports 41and 48 formed in the lower ends of the members 4| and 42, respectively,for movement into and out of registration under relative rotation ofsaid members, and a valve unit fitted into the lower end of the member42 below said ports comprising a sleeve 49 clamped to the member 42 bymeans of a base flange 50 thereon interposed between the lower end ofsaid member 42 and an internal shoulder on the lower tubular,

member 45, said sleeve having an upwardly opening flap valve pivotedthereto for opening and closing the same. A transverse pin 53 extendingthrough members 45, 42 and sleeve 49, prevents said members from workingloose.

The dump section 40 is designed for use with a dump cage and key asfollows.

The dump cage 54 has the form of a somewhat cylindrical pedestalprovided with legs 55, a base flange 56 by means of which it may bebolted; as at 51, to the rig platform 58, an upper end flat head 59axially bored at 60 for the insertion of the lower tubular member 45 ofdump section 4| therethrough, and a bar-like transversely extendingsupport 6| for said member 45 suspended in diametrically opposed slots62 in the cage 54 for vertical movement and by means of a pair oftension springs 63 pivotally connected at one end to laterally extendinglugs 64 on the head 59 and having their opposite ends suitably connectedto said support 6| A pair of. stop pins 65 extending through saidsupport 6| on opposite sides -.7..5,..,inv, ention, the pump I islowered mm the well of the cage 54, respectively, limit endwise play ofsaid support 6| p The support"'6| has upstanding therefrom a flat keymember 66 adapted to fitv loosely into the beforementioned slots 46provided in the lower member 45 of dump section 40. and for a purposepresently seen.

Referring now to the operation and use of the pump plunger i 5 isreciprocated in a manner which will be understood to draw sand and oil,or other fluid in the wellyinto the inner section 5 below said plunger5. Under the downstrokes of Y the plunger 5 the lower relief valve 24opens, in a manner which will be understood, and under upstrokes of saidplunger the described upper relief valve similarly opens, the ball valve20 under downstrokes of said plunger opening to permit air to passthrough said plunger'and escape by way of the upper relief valve as willbe clear. As will be understood, opening of the ball valve 20 providesfor trapping air between the plunger l5 and head casting 6 to bedischarged on the upstroke of said plunger. Consequently, air is.positively removed from below the plunger 5 thereby making dumping ofthe sand which is accumulated in the pump much easier to accomplish thanwith other types of pumps.

The sand and oil, or other fluid, are drawn upwardly past the lowerrelief valve 24 and through the port 26 thereof.

When it is desired to dump, or bail out, the pump, the latter iswithdrawn fromthe well casing and the dump section attached to the lowerend of the outer section 2 of said pump in the manner already described.The pump and said section 46 are then maneuvered into a position overthe dump cage 54 and the lower member of section 40 dropped into theaperture 60 and turned until the slots '46 thereof are in a position toreceive the key member 66 whereupon the whole device is lowered onto thesupport 6|. 'In this position of the parts, the lower member 45, theinner member 42 and the sleeve 49 of the dump section 40 are heldstationary by said key so that by turning the pump the section 4| of thedump section 40 may be rotated to bring the slot 41 thereof intoregistration with the slot 48 .of member 42 whereupon the pump I maydrain through the dump section 46 in a manner which will be understoodwithout further explanation.

In the attached position of the dump section 40, the flap valve 49'prevents escape of the contents of the pump until the ports 4! and 48are in registration.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to inipart a clearunderstanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modificationwithout departing from v the inventive concept and right is hereinreserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of-the subjoinedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sand pump for sanding oil wells, a tubuj lar casing adapted tobe lowered into the well, a head casting threaded onto the upper end ofsaid casing and provided with a central bore,

a plunger rod slidable in, said'bore for vertical reciprocation in saidcasing, a pump plunger secured to the lower end of said rod forreciprocation therewith and having anaxial port extending therethrough,a ball valve mounted in the vi 2 upper end of said plunger, and upperand lower pressure valve units in the lower end of said casing and insaid casting, respectively, the upper unit opening outwardly undercompression created by the upstroke of said plunger, and the lower unitopening outwardly under compression effected by the downstroke of saidpiston.

2. In a sand. pump for sanding oil wells, a

tubular casing adapted to be lowered into the well, a head castingthreaded onto the upper end of said casing and provided with a centralbore, a plunger rod slidable in said bore for vertical reciprocation insaid casing, a pump plunger secured to the lower end of said rod forreciprocation therewith and having an axial port extending therethrough,a ball valve mounted in the upper end of said plunger, and upper andlower pressure valve units in the lower end of said casing and in saidcasting, respectively, the upper unit opening outwardly undercompression created by the upstroke of said plunger,

and the lower unit opening outwardly under compression effected by thedownstroke of said piston, the lower valve unit including a tubularvalve casing extending diametrically of the easing to provide clearanceon each side thereof for the passage of material upwardly thereby.

3. In a sand pump for sanding oil wells, a tubular easing adapted to belowered into the well, a head casting threaded ont the upper end of saidcasing and provided with a central bore, a plunger rod slidable in saidbore for vertical reciprocation in said casing, a pump plunger securedto the lower end of said rod for reciprocation therewith and having anaxial port extending therethrough, a ball valve mounted in the upper endof said plunger, and upper and lower pressure valve units in the lowerend of said casing and in said casting, respectively, the upper unitopening outwardly under compression created by the upstroke of saidplunger, and the lower unit openin outwardly under compression effectedby the downstroke of said piston, the lower valve unit includingatubular valve casing extending diametrically of the casing to provideclearance on each side thereof for the passage of material upwardlythereby, the bore in said casting having a lower flared end, and saidpump plunger being provided with a beveled part fitting into said flaredend to seal said bore in the limit of upstroke mu vement or said plungerrod.

4. A sand pump for wells, including a cylindrical chamber adapted to belowered in the well, a rod extending from and reciprocable within saidchamber, a reciprocable pump piston connected with said rod for slidablesealing engagement with the Walls of said chamber, means providing apassageway through said piston between high and low pressure portions ofsaid chamber, a oneway valve for closing said passageway when saidpiston moves toward said high pressure chamber portion, a relief valvefor venting said high pressure portion of the chamber upon such movementof said piston, and a relief valve for venting said low pressure portionof the chamber upon movement of said piston in the opposite direction.

5. A sand pump for wells, including a cylindrical chamber adapted to belowered in'the well, a reciprocable rod extending through the upper endof said chamber, a piston secured to said rod for slidable sealingengagement with the walls of said chamber, means providing a passagewaythrough said piston establishing communication between the upper andlower portions of said chamber, a one-wa valve carried by said pistonfor closing said passageway when said piston moves toward the upper endof said chamber, a one-way relief valve at the upper end of said chamberfor venting said-upper chamber portion when said piston moves towardsaid upper end of the chamber.

6. A sand pump for wells, including a cylindrical chamber adapted to belowered in the well, a reciprocable rod extending through the upper endof said chamber, a piston secured to said rod for slidable sealingengagement with the walls of said chamber, means providing a passagewaythrough said piston establishing communication between the upperand-lower portions of said chamber, a one-way valve carried by saidpiston for closing said passageway when said piston moves toward theupper end of said chamber, a one-way relief valve at the upper end ofsaid chamber for venting said upper chamber portion whensaid pistonmoves toward said upper end of the chamber, and a one-way relief valveat the lower end of said chamber for venting said lower chamber portionwhen said piston moves in the opposite direction.

' AMBROSE L. COX.

